The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), alongside key stakeholders, has called for a comprehensive and united strategy to combat human trafficking in Nigeria, emphasized the importance of inter-agency cooperation and community involvement.
Speaking at the Stakeholder Knowledge Exchange, Engagement and Partnership Programme (SKEEP), organized in Abuja by the Open University UK in partnership with the University of Ibadan, NAPTIP, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the National Assembly, and the National Anti-Bullying Campaign, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, stressed the urgent need for a “whole-of-government and whole-of-society” approach to tackling the issue.
Dabiri-Erewa, represented by the Commission’s Secretary, Engr. Dr. Sule Yakubu Bassi, noted that the active involvement of youth, traditional rulers, religious leaders, MDAs, foreign missions, civil society organizations, and the media is critical in eradicating human trafficking across the country.
She revealed that NiDCOM, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NAPTIP, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and several state governments, has facilitated the repatriation of over 15,000 Nigerians from countries such as Libya, Oman, Ghana, Mali, Lebanon, and Côte d’Ivoire.
The NiDCOM boss also urged government at all levels to address both the “push” factors—conditions that compel citizens to leave—and “pull” factors that lure them abroad, as a way to reverse the troubling trend.
Similarly, the Director General of NAPTIP, Mrs. Binta Adamu Bello, represented by the Director of Research, Mr. Josiah Emerole, outlined the agency’s five-pillar strategy of Policy, Prevention, Protection, Prosecution, and Partnerships in tackling the crime. She reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to a victim-centered approach.
Earlier in the programme, Dr. Margaret Ebubedike and Dr. Saraswati Dawadi of the Open University UK shared cross-country reflections from Nigeria, Uganda, and Nepal, highlighting Nigeria’s commendable efforts in developing mechanisms and policies to address trafficking. They advocated for grassroots awareness and a “naming and shaming” strategy to expose traffickers.
The event also featured emotional testimonies from survivors of human trafficking, underscoring the urgent need for sustained efforts in prevention, rehabilitation, and reintegration.
